10 questions with Simon Rowe

"Community" is a word employed often by Simon Rowe. He's been working on the concept since moving to Stockton in 2011.

Tony Sauro

"Community" is a word employed often by Simon Rowe. He's been working on the concept since moving to Stockton in 2011.

"As I get older, I feel a greater responsibility to our communities - small and large - and finding ways to address the disparities in our culture and world at large," said Rowe, who has been director of University of the Pacific's Brubeck Institute since September 2011.

Music's a good way to do that.

Rowe, 51, was explaining why - instead of being a jazz pianist, trumpeter, instructor, administrator and entrepreneur for 23 years - he "might have tried" politics as a career.

He certainly possesses the requisite enthusiasm and upbeat attitude. Rowe's been following his communal instincts and drawing from his background while helping make the Brubeck Institute, its young musicians and jazz more integral aspects of Stockton's social and cultural community.

That's part of the vision and mission contemplated by Dave Brubeck (1920-2012), a 1942 Pacific graduate and venerated pianist-composer for whom the institute is named.

Since 2011, Rowe - a native of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - has helped create a consistent, appealing environment at Take 5 Jazz at the Brew, where Rowe, other Pacific faculty members, local musicians, members of the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet and guest performers play weekly concerts and engage in jam sessions.

The quintet also has "toured" regional venues, performed with the Stockton Symphony and participated in student outreach programs. The 2013 Brubeck Festival involved citywide venues and performances by Wynton Marsalis.

Rowe explained: "It's just circling back to, or thinking of, Dave's original passion to ... embrace a wider stage into education and the culture at large."

Rowe was educated at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas; the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music; Indiana University; the University of Illinois; Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois universities.

After switching from trumpet to piano in 1990, he played with the Willie Aikens Quartet (1993-97) in St, Louis, Mo., prior to becoming an instructor at Eastern Illinois and Minnesota State. He started his own recording label in Bloomington, Ind., and opened a jazz club in Fargo, N.D.

The sound of Louis Armstrong's trumpet captivated the 9-year-old Rowe - "I began to consume voraciously" - and set his non-political career course. He's married (wife Kylie) with two daughters (Georgianne and Ella).

Rowe recently riffed on some questions:

Question: If you could have dinner with three historical figures, who would they be?

Answer: Louis Armstrong, to glimpse the world through his eyes. Bill Evans, to get a sense of his understanding of music. Maya Angelou, to better understand our American culture.

Q: What's one thing you haven't done but would like to try?

A: Windsurfing. Looks like great fun.

Q: How do you describe Australia?

A: As a geographically beautiful country with amazing beaches and spectacular vistas. The spirit among the people is one of independence and rugged individualism. The biggest difference would be in the approach to vacation and holidays. For instance, most Americans would gladly work on Sunday for double pay, whereas the average Aussie would refuse and fiercely guard his or her leisure time.

Q: If you could have been present at one key event in jazz history, what would it have been?

Q: What is Vegemite (made familiar to Americans in "Down Under," a 1982 pop-rock song by Australia's Men at Work)?

A: It's the Aussie version of peanut butter. Kids grow up eating Vegemite on toast and sandwiches. It's made from yeast extract. Imagine scraping residue from the sides of beer vats and putting it on a sandwich. It tastes like solid, spreadable beef broth. An Aussie staple.

Q: Where would you most like to visit?

A: Ireland and France to learn more about my family tree, etc.

Q: What's your favorite song? Favorite album?

A: That's a tough one. So many favorite tunes and albums, It changes daily. Today, how about "The Thrill Is Gone" from "Chet Baker Sings" (1956)?

Q: How do you relax?

A: Spend time with my family. Particularly outdoors, near the ocean.

Q: What's your ideal meal?

A: My tastes are always shifting and growing. I love most ethnic foods. Anything created with pride and passion.

Q: What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

A: I once attempted to "steal" a spare tire from a vehicle that I believed had been abandoned - only to be greeted by the vehicle owner as I loosened my last bolt on the wheel.